Being a leader can be a rewarding experience. You get to go to work every day and guide your team to success in all their endeavours. However, being in a leadership position can also be challenging, with many demands placed upon you and having the responsibility to deal with any workplace issues that arise.
With so much on your plate, burnout can be a genuine possibility. Here are some of the signs that you might be experiencing leadership burnout and what to do about it.
You need your free time to recuperate
When you’re in a leadership position, which you can gain assistance with here https://cloverleaf.me/blog/situational-leadership-theory, there’s no denying that you can experience fatigue at the end of the working week. However, if you find that all your spare time, such as your weekends, is spent resting and recovering from the working week, you might be heading toward burnout.
It’s not uncommon to be tired after a busy week, but if you’re not using your time away from work to enjoy the things you love, you may need to reevaluate your position and the demands placed upon you to allow for more work-life balance.
You dread going to work
Many people work hard to gain a position in leadership, and, for the most part, they enjoy the role and the challenges it brings. However, when many demands are placed on you each day, and you’re continually combating one problem after another, you may start to dread heading to the office to face the same tasks day in, day out.
Fortunately, there are small changes you can make that may allow you to experience some relief, such as working on autonomous leadership. This leadership style promotes independence in your team, providing them with the tools and trust they need to manage everyday work issues on their own.
Your moods are erratic
You may know you need to act one way in the office and another at home, but stress, fatigue, and burnout may all mean your moods are unpredictable, and you act in ways that don’t necessarily fit the situation.
For example, you might respond to certain situations more intensely than usual and find it challenging to regulate your emotions. Alongside taking time off to give yourself a much-needed break, you may also see the value in delegating tasks and even trying meditation.
Your personal life is suffering
Having a work-life balance is crucial in any job, but it can sometimes be harder to maintain when you’re in a leadership position that requires you to take care of other people’s needs alongside your own.
When you find yourself saying no to meeting up with loved ones and canceling special events because you’re too busy with work, you no longer have that necessary balance, and personal relationships can suffer.
You fantasise about leaving your job
Sometimes, the stress of a leadership position can be so hard to manage that you continually find yourself fantasizing about leaving your job. You might not have any other plans, but the mere thought of escaping can provide you with some momentary relief.
It’s at this point that a break might be necessary. Booking a holiday sooner rather than later may offer the rest you need to prevent burnout and return to work refreshed.
As much as you may love your job, you’re not exempt from burnout. If you resonate with any of these signs above, it might be time to evaluate your current position and see if taking a break or reducing your workload is in your best interest.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg.
